Opposition rakes oil smuggling issue in UP assembly

Lucknow, Feb 27 (UNI) Members of the Uttar Pradesh assembly today expressed deep concern over excess tax being imposed on Petroleum products in the state, leading to smuggling of oil from the neighbouring states.

Raising the issue through a question, BJP's Hukum Singh said as the tax rate on petroleum products in Delhi and Haryana were less than UP, people prefer to cross over to these states to get petrol or diesel.

He said it is unfortunate that the sale of petroleum products in the state has dipped to 402 crore litre in 2008, when the state's consumption was 538 crore litre in 1998-99.

''In UP, 21 per cent tax is charged on petroluem products, while in Delhi and Haryana, it was only 12 per cent,'' he added.

Meanwhile, RLD member Satyendra Solanki claimed the four CNG filling stations in Noida had to be shut down as government and private vehicles cross over to Delhi for getting CNG, which is Rs 7 per kilogram cheaper than UP.

Replying to the question, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma assured the member that the government would examine the issue by taking congizance of the state's interest.

UNI MB ATI MSJ DS1640